Chapter 01

Meg Cummings was still as stiffened. Here she stood on the cemetery now, where almost her whole family was just buried. She still couldn't believe, what have happened five days ago.

Five days before:

Meg have spent a funny afternoon at the circus together with her eight years old nephew Andrew and her six years old neice Samantha. She enjoyed the time with the two children. Her brother Tobbias was there with his wife Melissa and the children on a visit for a couple of days. Tomorrow, at the 4th July, they would have a great barbecue on the farm of her parents. "The clowns were the best, weren't they aunt Meg?" she heard Andy asking. "Yes, they were very funny. What did you like most Sam?" Meg looked into the rear-view mirror at the two children. "The horses, aunt Meg, I love the horses." Sam's eyes shined up "Dad has promised me a pony for my next birthday." "You and your boring horses." Andy rolled his eyes. "You are stupid, horses are wonderful animals." "You are right Sam, I  also like horses  very much. Which animals do you like at most then, Andy?" "All kinds of reptiles," he told proudly "they are so mysteriously and not so boring like horses." "Horses aren't boring. Reptiles are disgusting." "They are not!" Andy porked his tongue at his sister "You girls are so stupid." "Sam, Andy, please stop the fighting. We had a great afternoon, hadn't we?" "Yes, aunt Meg," they said in unision. "Wow, what is that? Aunt Meg, it looks as if it burns behind there." Andy pointed at a thick column of smoke in front of them. "Oh my God, you are right and what it looks, it's on our farm." Meg drove faster and soon they reached the driveway to the farm. The car of the Sherrif blocks them the way. Meg stopped the car and got out."Sherrif Claton, what have happened? Please, let me through, I must go to the farm." Meg ran toward to the Sherrif. Sherrif Claton stopped Meg. "Meg, you can't go there yet." Meg felt, that something terrible must have happened. "Sherrif Claton, I must through there, my parents and my brother with his wife are still there anyway." The Sherrif put his arm around Meg and shook the head "Meg, I'm afraid. I can't let you through." Tears streamed down at Meg's face. "Please Sherrif, what have happened, my family is there anyway." The Sherrif didn't know how he should tell it to Meg. "Meg, there is nothing what you can do. There was a gas explosion on the farm. I’m sorry." "No, this can't be. Please, tell me that this isn't true. It can't be!" The Sherrif embraced Meg. "Meg, there is really nothing, what we can do." "No! Mom! Dad!" Meg yelled and then she broke down.

Sara Cummings put her hand on the shoulder from her sister "Come on Meg, it's over. Lets us go." Meg looked at her sister "You are right, however, I still can't believe it." "Me neither, but it's true. Come on Meg, let us go." "Yes, come on Sam and Andy, we want to go." She took the children at their hands and the four slowly left the cemetery. In front of the cemetery Alice Simson waited with the car for the Cummings. Sara, Meg and the children got in. For now they stayed at the Simsons place. As soon as Alice have started to drive, Meg's thoughts wandered back to the terrible afternoon again.

"Meg wake up!" Sherrif Claton tried Meg to awake again. Slowly she opened the eyes. "What have happened? Where are the children?" Sadly the Sherrif smiled at Meg. "The children are with Alice Simson. How are you?" Meg sat up and looked around. Suddenly she remembered, what the Sherrif have tried to tell her before. "Sherrif Claton, where are my parents and my brother and his wife?" "I'm sorry Meg," he took Meg's hand "but when we arrived, we couldn't do anything." Meg sobbed "What happened?" "It looks that way as that it has been a gas explosion in the kitchen. When the firebrigade arrived, they couldn't do much" The Sherrif paused and took Meg into his arms. He knew her since she was a little girl and it was hard to him, to tell her what have happened. "We have found four bodies in the kitchen. I'm sorry Meg." Meg sobbed "The children, I must go to the children. Somebody must tell it to them."

"Meg have you heard, what I have said?" Sara's voice came through to Meg. "Excuse me Sara, what did you say?" Sara hugged her sister "Meg, I'm sorry, that I must go back to Washington tomorrow, but we are in the middle of the election campaign, I simply can't stay here longer." Meg tried to smile "It's ok Sara, I already understand it. The life goes on and your life in Washington now and not here in Ludlow any longer." They reached the Simson farm and got out. "Come on kids, I think, I have still ice cream for you in the freezer." Alice took the children in their hands and led them into the house. Meg wanted to follow them, but Sara held her back "What do you will to do now Meg? What will happen with Samantha and Andrew?" Meg looked at Sara "I'll try to keep Sam and Andy, we are their only family, they still have anyway. Melissa's parents have already been dead for a couple of years and she didn't have any brothers or sisters either. Tomorrow I have an appointment with Richard, we'll see what he can do about it." Sara hugged her sister "You will make it, you were always the stronger of us. I hope that you can keep the children, they need you just as you need them." Sara looked at her sister "Meg, if the money of the insurance comes, please take everything for you and the children and make a new beginning. I earn enough in Washington and I have everything I need for the life there." Tears once more climbed in Meg’s eyes "But Sara, something is entiled to you also of this. Mom and Dad were your parents too." Sara shook her head "Meg, I really don't need it and you can make a new beginning possible for you and the children with that."

Chapter 02

Meg had just said goodbye to her sister at the airport of Kansas City and was on the way back to Ludlow now. In two hours she had an appointment with Richard Bauer. He was an old friend of her father's and the best lawyer in town. At the moment, the most important to Meg was, that she could keep the children of her brother. As Sara already noticed correctly the day before, the children needed Meg just much as Meg needed them. She was a person, who needed to be close to her family. Her family had been also the reason till now why she hadn't left Ludlow yet. Meg came to think about a conversation with her mother, which had been maybe a month ago.

It was a mild night and Meg just came back from a date with Tim, her highschoolsweetheart. She sat down on the bench in front of the house to think a little about that, what Tim have said to her today. She didn't know, how long she had been sitting there, when her mother came out of the house. "Is everything all right, honey?" Joan Cummings always felt, when something was bothering Meg. Meg sighed. "Actually everything should be ok, but somehow it don't feel so." Joan sat down next to her daughter "Do you like to talk about it? Did you have a fight with Tim?" Meg looked at her mother. From where did she always know, what bothered Meg. "Actually we didn't have a fight directly." Meg sighed "Tim have asked me today, if I want to marry him." Joan knew her daughter to well and something was wrong here "And? What do you want to do?" "Mom, if only I knew this. Tim said, that he doesn't want to wait longer and if I don't want marry him, then he'll look for somebody else." Joan put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Meg you should only marry, if you are absolutly sure about this. Do you love Tim?" " Yes, but more like a brother and not like the man, with whom I want to spend the rest of my life." Meg sighed. "Mom, do you believe in the big love?" Joan smiled. "Of course and I'm happy, that I have found my big love in your father." Meg smiled. She loved her parents and wanted, that she once would have such as good a marriage as her parents. "Do you think, that I will ever meet my big love?" Joan hugged her daughter. "Of course, I believe, that you will meet the man, who is meant for you. And if you feel it isn't Tim, then you shouldn't marry him. Meg, you are still young, have you ever thought about to leave Ludlow and to see a little bit of the world?" Meg smiled, how well her mother knew her. "However I just thought about that I maybe should go for a while to Sara to Washington." "Then do it Meg, you must find your own way and this haven't to be here in Ludlow."

Meg stopped the car in front of the building in which Richard Bauer had his office. She was still sitting there for a moment and took a deep breath. After a few minutes she got out and entered the building. She was welcomed by Richard's secretary. "Hi Meg, how are you? I’m sorry about what happened with your parents. I still can’t believe it." "Thanks Susan, I'm fine under the circumstances. Is Richard in his office? I have a appointment with him." Susan nodded and got up. "Wait, I let him know that you are here." She went over to the door behind her, knocked briefly and opened it. "Mr. Bauer, Meg Cummings is here." Susan turned around to Meg. "You can go in." She stepped aside and Meg entered the office. A stately, gray-haired man got up from his desk and approached Meg. He hugged her briefly "Hi Meg, nice to see you. How are you?" Meg smiled at Richard Bauer. She have always liked him. "Thanks, I'm fine." "Would you like a cup of coffee?" Meg nodded. "Susan would you please get us two cups of coffee?" "Of course, Mr. Bauer." Susan left the office and closed the door behind herself. "Come on Meg, let us sit down." Richard moved a chair for Meg and she sat down. Richard sat down behind his desk again. Before he could say anything, Susan brought the coffee and then left the office just as fast and quiet as she have entered it. "If I have understood you right, you would like to have the custody for Samantha and Andrew?" Meg nodded. "Yes, that’s right. Sara and I are the only family which they still have. Do you think, that I have a chance?" "Well," Richard leant back in his chair "however, it won't be simply, since you aren't married, but I think, we'll make it. I have asked around before a little bit and it doesn't look bad for you at all. Tomorrow I have an appointment at the guardianship court and after that I know more." Meg sighed relieved "Thank you Richard, this means a lot for me." Richard smiled at her "I know that and because of that I'll do everything in my power to help you with it." For you speaks, that everybody knows you here in Ludlow and we don't have to go to Colorado, because the children are already here." Meg got up. "When do you think, you'll learn something about it?" "I'm rather sure, that I can regulate everything tomorrow. I’ll call you then." Meg shook hands with Richard. "Thank you very much again Richard, it really means a lot for me, that the children can stay with me." "Don't worry Meg, we will make it. Till tomorrow then." "Yes till tomorrow then." Meg left the office and drove on the fastest way back to the the Simson’s farm and spent the rest of the day with Sam and Andy.

At the next day, around noon, Richard Bauer called and informed Meg, that she got the custody for the children. Relieved about this, she went outside to the children. "Sam, Andy, a friend from me just called and have informed me, that we can stay together." "Oh aunt Meg, I'm so glad about this, I wouldn't like to lose you too." Sam hugged Meg. "Sam, I wouldn't like to lose you either and I promise you, that we three will stay together." "What will we then do now, aunt Meg? Will we stay here with the Simsons?" Andy have hugged Meg now too. Meg smiled, this little guy was so brave, but she could see how he fought back his tears. Meg shook her head. "To be honest, I would like to leave Ludlow and start somewhere else from the beginning. How sounds that to you?" "I think I would like it, what do you think Sam?" "I would like this too, as long as we can stay together." "That we will. "What do you think about this, if we pack and leave Ludlow already today?" She still haven't quite finished when the children  ran into the house. She followed them and started to pack her few personal belongings. An hour later they sat in the car and left Ludlow. "Aunt Meg?" she heard Andy asking "Where will we drive?" Meg looked into the rear-view mirror and smiled. "I don't know it yet, but I'm sure, that we will find  a place somewhere behind the horizon, where we would like to live." "Cool, I like the idea." Andy was enthusiastic. "Yes, let us drive hehind the horizon." Sam also agreed.

Chapter 03

Almost three weeks ago, Meg left Ludlow with the children. First they went to Colorado Springs, where her brother had lived with his family. First Meg wanted to stay there with the children, however when she noticed, that the children cried themself to the sleep every evening, she decided, to leave Colorado Springs. They packed some personal things of the children and their parents and Meg submitted the house to a broker, so that he could sell it for her.

They simply drove forward themself, crossed a part of New Mexico and Arizona and finally have arrived in California. This morning they have reached a little town named Sunset Beach. Meg had parked the car at the pier and she and the children had made a long walk on the beach. Now they sat in the Java Web, a little café and had a small snack for lunch. "Aunt Meg, I really like it here, can we stay here?" Andy looked expectantly at his aunt. "Yes, it is very nice here. And what do you think, Sam?" She looked at the little girl to her right hand. "It's great here. I have never seen such a beautiful beach before." "Sam, you have never seen a beach before." Andy corrected his little sister. "I have watched some in the TV," repied Sam "however, here in the real I like it much more." "Well you both think we should stay in Sunset Beach for a while?" Sam smiled at Meg "Yes we should do this." "I agree and I would like to live in a house at the beach." Andy could hardly stop himself with enthusiasm. Meg laughed " I think we will take a hotel room for now. I also must find a job before we can look around for a house." She looked into the eyes of the two children and noticed that they sparkled for the first time in weeks. "Shall we celebrate it with a milkshake?" Both children nodded. Meg looked around and waved to the waitor. He came over to them "May I bring you something else?" Meg smiled "Yes, we have something to celebrate and would like to have three chocolate milkshakes." "Three chocolate milkshakes, they will come at once." The young man went behind the bar and short time later, he returned with the milkshakes. "May one ask what you celebrate?" "That we'll stay here in Sunset Beach." Andy informed him. "On the condition I find a job here." Meg added. "Well, welcome here in Sunset Beach. By the way, I'm Mark Wolper." "Nice to meet you, Mr Wolper. These here are Samantha and Andrew and I am Meg Cummings." "Mark, we aren't so formal here. You look for a job? Well, my boss searches for a waitress for his nightclub downstairs." Meg smiled "Mark, that's a nice offer, but since I am alone with the children, I can't work in the evening. I need a job during the day, when the both are in the school." "I understand. Have you thought of something in particular, then? I know a lot of people here and maybe I can help you along." Mark offered. That would be nice. I have worked as a secretary the last few years and I would like to continue to work to this area. I know about computers also quite well." Mark smiled „I think, we can find something there for you. Just leave your phone number here and when I find something, I'll call you." “Really? That would be great. The best would be, if I give you my cell number, because we will stay at the hotel here the first time." She took a piece of paper from her purse and wrote her cell phone number on it. Mark took the piece of paper and put it into the pocket of his jeans. "May I still buy you both an ice cream?" he asked the children. "Oh yes, may we aunt Meg?" Andy shone over the whole face. "OK" Meg nodded. Short time later, Mark brought the ice creme for the children and for Meg a cup of coffee. “Thanks, that is nice.” "A little welcome for you." Mark winked the eye. "May we go out to the beach, aunt Meg?" Meg thought briefly over "Yes, but wait a moment, I'll come at once too." Anyway it was to late, the children had already run out of the café. Andy bumped into a man in the door. Andy looked at the man briefly and went been frightened on. Meg jumped up from her chair "Andy, you come back immediately and apologize." The man removed the rest of the ice creme with a napkin from his pants. "Let him go, nothing happened. Nobody was injured and nothing was broken." Meg smiled at the man. "However, he should never the less apologize." Meg looked after Andy, who already was on the beach again "Excuse me please, but I have to go after the children." "No problem, have still a lot of fun at the beach." The man looked at Meg for a moment. "Thanks" Meg didn't know, what she should say. Those blue eyes had her somehow confused. Such eyes hadn’t she seen before. "I really must go now." Fast she left the Java Web and followed the children.

The man still looked after Meg a moment and then he turned around to Mark. "I hope everything is all right here." Yes boss, everything is all right here. However, do you look as if you have had a hard morning, Ben." Ben sighed "Well, you can say this. I wish I would finilly find a reliable secretery for my office in the Liberty Corporation again." Mark was surpised "I thought you have adjusted a new one only three days ago?" Ben poured himself a coffee "I had, however, I fired her this morning. I need a secretary, who can work independently and who knows, how to use a computer." Mark smiled "Maybe I know somebody for you." “Really?” Ben was surprised. "Yes, shall I call her, if she is interested in the job?" Ben took a gulp of his coffee. "That would be good, maybe she can come over into my office in the Liberty Corporation already this afternoon for an interview. I'll be there the whole afternoon. Unfortunately, I have to go right now. I only needed some papers from my office here." Ben went back to behind to his office and returned with a file in his hand few moments later. Before he left the Java Web, he turned around to Mark once again "And what's the name of the woman? I must at least know, whom I shall expect." “Her name is Meg Cummings.” “Thanks Mark, see you later.” Ben left the Java Web and Mark went over to the telephone and dialed Meg's cell phone number.

Chapter 04

Excited Meg entered the building of the Liberty Corporation. She still couldn’t believe, that Mark had called her so fast, because of a job. She had left the two children with Mark in the Java Web and made herself on the way to the Liberty Corporation. She looked around and then she walked over to the desk of the porter “Hello, my name is Meg Cummings and I am here for an interview with Mr. Evans." The portier looked at a list in front of himself and then he smiled at Meg. "Mr. Evans expects you. Just take the left elevator and drive up o the 18th floor. Then you come directly into the anterroom from Mr. Evans. Since, there are isn’t anybody there at the moment, you go through it into Mr. Evans office.” “Thanks” Meg smiled back and went at once over to the elevators. She entered the left and pushed on the button for the 18th floor. A short time later the elevator stopped on the 18th floor and the elevator door opened. Meg took deep breath and then she left the elevator. Like the portier had told her, nobody was in the anteroom but there was a door, which was open, in the opposite side. Determinedly Meg went towards the door and looked into the office. First she couldn’t discover anybody, but then she noticed somebody behind the computer and this man quietly cursed in front of himself.

“Damned thing, why doesn’t this program work how I want it?" Ben tried once more to start the program, just without the same luck as before. He was so recessed, that he didn’t noticed at first, that somebody had entered his office. "Excuse me please, I’m looking for Mr. Evans.” he heard suddenly somebody saying. He showed up behind his computer and looked into the face of the young woman from the Java Web. Meg also immediately recognized Ben and blushed “Oh, please excuse me.” She turned around and wanted to leave the office immediately again, when she was stopped by Ben. "Please, wait" Ben came around his desk" You must be miss Cummings. I am Ben Evans.” Ben shook hands with Meg. "Yes, I am miss Cummings" Meg smiled shyly "I would like to apologize for the occurrence from earlier again.” “Oh, don’t worry about this, nothing happened.” Ben moved a chair for Meg "Please take a seat. Well, I guess you are here, because of the job as my assistant?” “Yes, but I thought it would rather be a job as a secretary." Meg sat down and Ben returned behind his desk. "It would be more than secretary, it would be more an assistant, my right hand so to speak. Do you have any experiences in this area?" Meg opened her purse and got the testimonial, which Richard Bauer have given to her, out. "The last 5 years, I have worked in a law firm in Ludlow-Kansas ." She handed the testimonial to Ben. He put it on his desk unseenly. "May I ask, why you have left your last job?" “This has personal reasons, I needed a change ." Meg lowered her eyes and Ben felt, that he shouldn’t ask more at the moment. He leant back “Well, what for me would be very important is the questions, if you can handle the computers? As you just could see, computers aren’t my best friends." Meg smiled "Actually I work very good with the computres. May I ask, what is the problem with your computer?” she pointed at Ben’s computer. “Well, I have tried desperately to open a program already for half an hour, unfortunately without success.” “May I look at it?" Ben nodded and Meg got up and walked around the desk “Which program is it?" Ben showed it to Meg. She pressed three buttons and the program opened. "Wow, you have this to go fast. I think, you are exactly the assistant I have looked for." “Thanks" Meg sat down again "but I still must know the working times, since I have the two children." Ben considered a moment "Well, I think we can be a little bit flexible there. How would it be with a working time of 9:00 to 15:00 clock?" “This sounds good, because the children will be in school exactly in this time." “Good” Ben bent forward “It is Friday today, how would it be, if you will start at Monday then?” “Good, then I have still the weekend to look for a place to stay.” “Where do you live now then?” “Since we we arrived here today, we stay at the Seebreez hotel for the moment, but that isn’t a place to stay with two children for longer. We need a home." sighed Meg. Ben thought over for a moment and then he write a phone number on a piece of paper which he handed to Meg. “Simply call my broker, mrs Sneider. Maybe she can  help you. If you need any references, you just call me." Ben also handed Meg his own card. Meg accepted both. “Thank you mr Evans . And I will be punctual on Monday." “I don't doubt this in the least ."Ben smiled “Then we will fix your contract on Monday. And now you enjoy your weekend and much success at the search for an apartment."Meg got up and shook hands with Ben "Again thank you very much, mr. Evans. See you at Mondy then.” She turned around and left the office.

After Meg had gone, Ben sat down at his desk, took the telephone receiver into his hand and dialed the number of his broker “Hi Caroline, Ben Evans is speaking. Is the little beach house next to mine still for sale?" Ben waited for the answer “Good, could you please draft a contract, I’ll buy it.”He listened what the boker said and laughed “Yes, I am serious, Caroline. And there is still something else. A young woman, a miss Cummings, will get in touch with you. Please offer her the house to rent. However, for a low rent, maybe for 150 dollars per week .” He listened again what his conversation partner had to say "I am serious with that, Caroline and you please offer it only miss Cummings, understand? I’ll drop in later and sign the contract then.” he wanted to hang up the reciever, when something still occurred to him “And Caroline? Please, don’t tell miss Cummings, that I am the owner of the house. Thanks, bye.” He hung up the reciever.

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